Summicron Itch

[Rikard]

Lately I've been rather obsessed with 50mm lenses. Bought a Zeiss C Sonnar 50 1.5, which I really like. But still, I couldn't stop myself from buying a Summicron version 4, the "tiger paw" from ebay. It was recently serviced by D.A.G so should work well I hope. I really need to get away from the computer and shoot more pictures 🙂

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Don't know why Canadian lens is called this way. It is Beaver Tail and nothing to do with tigers.
I had it. It was "Meh", prone to vail and focus shifts, except different, richer than Cosina's Zeiss ZM colors. Including overblown red. 🙂

 

[Rikard]

I had it. It was "Meh", prone to vail and focus shifts, except different, richer than Cosina's Zeiss ZM colors. Including overblown red. 🙂

Alright. Maybe it was a good thing I cancelled the order then 🙂

 

[Ororaro]

One can safely say it’s an amazing lens. That particular design has been going on for almost 50 years, and it will easily be around for 100 more, if we judge by how many have been sold and in use worldwide. The V5 is still being offered by Leica and it’s the same optically as V4.

Some (a lot) might even prefer the V4’s handlng: a focus tab combined to a very short focus throw is really a Leica essence.
The “Tiger Paw” was coined by asians and indeed looks like their cartoon designs. No asian would ever think of a Beaver’s tail, and why would they? Do they even know what a beaver is, if not folklorically?

The V4 50 summicron is an extremely fine handling lens.
Optically it is Leica’s most enduring design ever.

Don’t listen to people who Yap and have very little experience.

 

[x-ray]

I agree with KoFe regarding a veil if there’s any stray light hitting the front element. Contrast dropped noticeably. If the light is behind or to your side no problem but in difficult lighting the one I had wasn’t great.

My copy had the tiger paw and over the years the focusing mount wore causing a rough spot at a certain distance. I think it was a result of often working at a given distance and the inward pressure of my finger pressing on the tab caused uneven wear at that point. When I would focus at infinity and then closer, when it hit that point it would drag and feel rough and uneven.

I wound up selling it and bought a ZM Planar which I’m currently selling in the classifieds. The ZM has superior contrast and handles flare much better than the V4. My Planar was always the lens I went to if I knew lighting would be difficult. Zeiss T* coatings are some of the most effective you can get.

 

[santino]

I totally agree with Ned. The V4 is my favorite 50.

 

[Ororaro]

I agree with KoFe regarding a veil if there’s any stray light hitting the front element. Contrast dropped noticeably. If the light is behind or to your side no problem but in difficult lighting the one I had wasn’t great.

My copy had the tiger paw and over the years the focusing mount wore causing a rough spot at a certain distance. I think it was a result of often working at a given distance and the inward pressure of my finger pressing on the tab caused uneven wear at that point. When I would focus at infinity and then closer, when it hit that point it would drag and feel rough and uneven.

I wound up selling it and bought a ZM Planar which I’m currently selling in the classifieds. The ZM has superior contrast and handles flare much better than the V4.

Probably the little screw unscrewing. Happens on the V4 summicron as well.

About the veil; the V4+V5 summicrons develop a veil over their element #2. Extremely easy to clean.
I’ve had it on many V4 and V5. As I understand this, it’s outgassing.

Once wiped, good for at least a decade or two.

 

[Evergreen States]

My M mount rigid Summicron has an annoying focus lock, no focus tab and the distance scale is in imperial units only. On top of all that, the MFD is 1m. I have nonetheless taken a real liking to it.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

My M mount rigid Summicron has an annoying focus lock, no focus tab and the distance scale is in imperial units only. On top of all that, the MFD is 1m. I have nonetheless taken a real liking to it.

When you're in love, your beloved's flaws become charms! 🙄

 

[Evergreen States]

When you're in love, your beloved's flaws become charms! 🙄

I think it's more a "if you love somebody you should think hard about what you can learn to live with, what you can't and what you can get the other person to compromise on changing" thing. I can get along with the quirks of my rigid Summicron the way I got used to the three handed bottom loading of the M3 it came to me with. I could have the infinity lock removed but my Leica kit is an heirloom to me and I want to keep it intact for sentimental reasons.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I think it's more a "if you love somebody you should think hard about what you can learn to live with, what you can't and what you can get the other person to compromise on changing" thing. I can get along with the quirks of my rigid Summicron the way I got used to the three handed bottom loading of the M3 it came to me with. I could have the infinity lock removed but my Leica kit is an heirloom to me and I want to keep it intact for sentimental reasons.

You are right, of course, but I think my phrasing just sounds more romantic. Just a sentimental old fool, I guess...🤣

 

[mdarnton]

If you're shooting your Leica at anywhere near infinity you're using it for the wrong pictures. 😛

 

[Richard G]

My v4 had one shot ruined by flare. And I took great pictures for decades before discovering the front focus, now fixed. But the ergonomics are perfect.

 

[cboy]

Great all round lens. The veiling flare is only negative with my copy. My understanding is the phenomena can be caused by the internal reflections within the lens, so I was wondering why not add more coatings to it since it's still in production. Still great 👍

 

[Ko.Fe.]

One can safely say it’s an amazing lens. That particular design has been going on for almost 50 years, and it will easily be around for 100 more, if we judge by how many have been sold and in use worldwide. The V5 is still being offered by Leica and it’s the same optically as V4.

Some (a lot) might even prefer the V4’s handlng: a focus tab combined to a very short focus throw is really a Leica essence.
The “Tiger Paw” was coined by asians and indeed looks like their cartoon designs. No asian would ever think of a Beaver’s tail, and why would they? Do they even know what a beaver is, if not folklorically?

The V4 50 summicron is an extremely fine handling lens.
Optically it is Leica’s most enduring design ever.

Don’t listen to people who Yap and have very little experience.

Dont yap about people you have no clue . I have used all Leitz 50/2 . Not for reviews, but for daily use.
The reason why it is sold in some quantities is just because it is cheaper, kit Leitz made 50/2.
"Extremely fine handling " has plastic inner parts...

 

[rfaspen]

Never really noticed the flare in my v4. Mine is the tiger paw too but I replaced it with a half moon tab. Like that better. The lens is a staple among my most used lenses.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Alright. Maybe it was a good thing I cancelled the order then 🙂

Yes. So called v3 which is disregarded by clueless snobs , has all metal build, comparing to creappo v4 beaver trail inner plastic in aperture mechanism. Optically it was just as same as Beaver Tail. But no vail, much less focus shift. Just check if copy will not have too tight focus ring. I have added focus tab on mine and it was quick to focus.
One more thing, v4 is nothing but flat on bw film. The rest is fine. V3 was evenly good across all films and digital.

 

[Ororaro]

Dont yap about people you have no clue . I have used all Leitz 50/2 . Not for reviews, but for daily use.
The reason why it is sold in some quantities is just because it is cheaper, kit Leitz made 50/2.
"Extremely fine handling " has plastic inner parts...

Almost 50 years old design and still sold to this day.
We can safely say it is the very Best and most succesful Leica lens design to this day.

Nothing less than a legendary Staple. A classic.

Yet, you seem to be fixated on bringing this lens down. Please go on…

 

[Ko.Fe.]

My M mount rigid Summicron has an annoying focus lock, no focus tab and the distance scale is in imperial units only. On top of all that, the MFD is 1m. I have nonetheless taken a real liking to it.

Strange, i had rigid with focus lock at infinity, via typical ltm style focus tab. The lock plate could be just filed or it was some reassembly trick to disable it.
Imperial is idiotic. I would wrap this nonsence with masking tape and relabel to normal.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Almost 50 years old design and still sold to this day.
We can safely say it is the very Best and most succesful Leica lens design to this day.

Nothing less than a legendary Staple. A classic.

Yet, you seem to be fixated on bringing this lens down. Please go on…

Marketing fact you ain't able to accept, it is nothing but cheapest 50/2 sold as new by LCAG.
This is the real reason why it is still selling. Why change something if you could still sell...
Here is nothing special about it. Planar 50/2 ZM is also selling like this.